PURPOSE

The purpose of the NAC SAAC is to build community, promote communication and relationships across campuses, and provide a student athlete perspective to conference business. Additionally, the NAC SAAC distributes information, provides leadership opportunities, and engages in constructive initiatives and community development.

MEMBERSHIP

The NAC SAAC is comprised of student athlete members of campus SAACs. All campus SAAC members are eligible for inclusion in conference SAAC meetings and events, though two student athletes per school have voting rights at conference meetings.

LEADERSHIP

Four student athletes from the group are elected each year to serve as the executive board and provide leadership and direction for the academic year. The Executive Board for 2025-65 is:

• President - Madelynn Orosz, SUNY Cobleskill (Softball)
• Vice President - Carson Collins, SUNY Cobleskill (Women's Soccer)
• Secretary - (To Be Determined)
• Councillors
  • (To Be Determined) 
  • (To Be Determined)

NAC SAAC meets in person during the fall semester (November) with a two-day retreat in the fall. The group also conducts conference calls and maintains a variety of open communication channels. Currently, NAC SAAC is meeting regularly via zoom. 

Initiatives have included:

• Mental Health (2026) - Continue to raise awareness on mental health by utilizing key phrases the student- athletes came up with during the fall retreat: Notice, Act, Care / No Athlete Completes Alone. 
• Morgan's Message (2025) - Focus on mental health among student-athletes and spread the word and awareness about Morgan's Message. Morgan's Message is an organization that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental heatlh within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. Link to photo gallery
• DISC Leadership Training (2024) - Utilized the DISC model to enhance selfawareness, communication, and leadership effectiveness among leaders and teams.
• One Love and Love Better campaigns to raise awareness regarding healthy/unhealthy relationships and relationship violence (2020)

  

• For mental health awareness week in May, 2020, NAC SAAC brought awareness to mental health and committed to breaking the stigma associated with mental health issues (click to watch videos). It's okay to not be okay!
• In 2020-21, the group is focused on social and racial justice, and encouraging participation in national elections. NAC SAAC requeseted, and Administrators unanimously approved, a mandatory day-off from required athletic activities on November 3rd so student athletes can vote or otherwise assist at the polls. The group also had several sessions of racial and social justice education with Jen Fry, and are currently developing action steps geared toward supporting an inclusive atmosphere throughout NAC athletics.
• Special Olympics events and activities are ongoing. All campuses plus the conference SAAC participated in the 50 for 50th Anniversary challenge in 2018-19.
• It's On Us campaign to reduce sexual assault on campus.
• You Can Play project to affirmatively welcome student athletes of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

NATIONAL SAAC

The National SAAC represents the student athlete voice in the Division III governance structure by reviewing legislation; identifying significant student athlete issues; implementing national student athlete based initiatives; encouraging community outreach; and enhancing Division III student athlete involvement in and understanding of Division III in general.  The SAAC is also the committee that is primarily responsible for maintaining and coordinating the division’s nationwide partnership with Special Olympics.  The committee meets in-person four times each year in January, April, July and November.  It also conducts teleconferences as needed.

National SAAC consists of 43 student athletes who represent each of the Division III conferences and independent schools. The North Atlantic Conference is currently represented by Jameson Bloch (UMaine-Farmington, Baseball) through January 2027. 

Past Representatives:

• Alberto Bustamante (VTSU Lyndon, Baseball, Jan. 2024-July 2026) *
• Rachael Schoones (SUNY Delhi, Women's Soccer, Jan. 2022-Jan.2024)
• Cassie Contigiani (Thomas Women's Soccer, Jan. 2019-Jan. 2021) *
• Michael Litz (UEC, Penn State Abbington, men's tennis, Jan. 2019-Jan.2021) 
• Nicole Monik (NVU-Johnson, Women's Tennis, Jan. 2019) 

* Representatives were associate members of National SAAC. National SAAC use to consists of 24 student athletes who represent each of the Division III conferences and independent schools. Members represented their own conference plus a partner conference. The North Atlantic Conference's partner was the United East Conference (UEC). Partner conferences rotated representation in the national group and as associate members. 

RESOURCES

• NAC SAAC Membership and Leadership
• NAC SAAC Constitution & Bylaws
  • Member Campus SAAC Advisors
  • Member Campus SAAC Communication Plan
  • Member Campus SAAC Best Practices
• NCAA D-III National SAAC webpage
• NCAA D-III SAAC Best Practices
• NCAA D-III Guide to Developing a SAAC Constitution

Contact Allie Osterhoudt (aosterhoudt@nacathletics.com) with questions or to share news and get involved. Find us on social media with #NACSAAC.